Reading List (Update): On Success

[July 22, 2018] One of the very first characteristics of senior leaders highlighted here at www.theleadermaker.com was transparency. Any leader today, in a modern world with instant communications, must be transparent in their leadership skills, their behavior, and their decision making. Leaders must also be willing to admit the truth and seek the absolute truth because only through it can they complete any mission in life. And, while there are many leader styles only those that are open and honest will lead to a successful conclusion. The book I’m highlighting today reinforces these points and goes beyond the basic rules of transparency.

Principles: Life and Work, Ray Dalio, 2017.

This book is being highlighted today because I believe that when a successful person gives us his principles for success, we should pay close attention to what he has to say. Author Ray Dalio became a multi-billionaire and is giving us his thoughts on what made him achieve so much. At the core of his book is a question he asks, “What do you want?” If you can answer the question truthfully, then you are on the path to success already. His formula is simple. Promote meritocracy with radical truth and radical transparency. This means controlling one’s emotions, being open-minded, and embracing reality.

Overall, the book is organized well, thoroughly researched and thoughtful, and insightful. The book is really about self-awareness. Getting back to the questions, what do you want, Dalio takes us on a journey that will allow us to achieve want we want but only if we are willing to shed our personal delusions and misconceptions about ourselves. It means being honest with ourselves and being candid with other people. There are three main parts to this book, and I will not spoil it for the reader. What the takeaway lesson is for us is that leadership can be fulfilling and is achievable for anyone who is willing to be unbiased, open, and truthful.

13 thoughts on “Reading List (Update): On Success”

Dalio says to be a “hyperrealist” and you will succeed. I think this is what makes him so appealing in his book too. This means getting to the truth and not what you want the truth to be. Good luck to everyone this weekend. Thank you Gen. Satterfield for pointing us in the right direction with this book.

Good one, Max. I like the idea that some of us have seen a lot of the content of this book but I am also dismayed that many have not and would resist it. Transparency is only good if you want an outcome that is fair and straightforward. If you have a socialist-like agenda, the book is probably not for you.

If you want to be shocked, then buy this book. Or … should I say if you are a Millenial and want to be shocked, buy this book and read it. Most of us have seen the content in one form or another. Millenials have never seen it. It has shocking recommendations like transparency, honesty, truth, and the effect of meritocracy and its value to any organization. Please please please buy it and read it.